A naval base official who sparked controversy when he dressed as Adolf Hitler during a fancy dress charity fundraiser has apologised.

Robbie Robertson was criticised by war veterans for his choice of outfit during a fancy dress parade at HMS Collingwood, near Fareham, to raise money for Children in Need.

But today the 52-year-old Falklands War veteran, who is the base energy officer, defended himself and said sorry for any offence his action had caused.

In a letter to the Daily Echo, published on page 12 today, he says: "First and foremost I would like to make an unreserved apology to any veterans whom I may have offended. At no time was there any intention to belittle the efforts of our WWII veterans, nor glorify Hitler himself, the intent was to have a bit of fun at my own expense.

"Secondly, any embarrassment to the Royal Navy or Flagship Training Limited is totally regretted, I can only offer my humblest apologies."

What Robbie Robertson says in the My View' colum in today's Daily Echo

HMS Collingwood energy warden Robbie Robertson caused a stir when he dressed in an Adolf Hitler outfit, pictured during a fancy dress parade for Children in Need. Today he explains why and apologises for any offence caused.

First and foremost I would like to make an unreserved apology to any veterans whom I may have offended. At no time was there any intention to belittle the efforts of our Second World War veterans, nor glorify Hitler himself, the intent was to have a bit of fun at my own expense.

Secondly, any embarrassment to the Royal Navy or Flagship Training Limited is totally regretted, I can only offer my humblest apologies.

Dressing up as someone in no way means you condone their actions nor subsume their personality. The occasion was a fancy dress parade, also present were the likes of Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan and 101 other villains and heroes both factual and fictional. The event was organised to raise money for Children in Need, which appears to have been totally overlooked by the media. Furthermore there were no Second World War veterans present as the article suggests nor were there any members of the general public. The event took place at 0730 and was an in-house affair.

My reasons for choosing Hitler was because of my role as Energy Warden (as stated on the armband on my left sleeve) this is due to some of the comments I have overheard while carrying out these duties.

I did give the choice of dress some thought and believed I had sufficiently de-risked it by ensuring there were no Nazi swastikas, no goose-stepping or Nazi saluting. This was not Hitler the fascist, merely Hitler the Energy Warden. While the article also refers to the Iron Cross as a Nazi medal, this is not the case, it is a medal for bravery similar to the George Cross instituted in Prussia in 1813. The intent was not to glorify Hitler in any way, merely provide a laugh at my own expense. (I am sure many traffic wardens will sympathise).

Furthermore I am the last person who would want to upset veterans of Second World War or any other campaign. For the past ten years I have played host to the St Dunstaners (blind ex-servicemen) during their annual visit to the Portsmouth area in July and have built some long-term friendships with many of them. I have also visited many war graves around the world and made several trips to the Normandy beaches to pay my respects. Furthermore, I am a veteran myself having served for 36 years in the Royal Navy and went to war in the Falklands. While I would not wish to compare this to the horrors and scale of the Second World War, I have still served my Queen and country and was prepared to lay down my life accordingly. The main aim of war is to preserve freedom and liberty, to allow freedom of speech and expression, surely this includes dressing up for a bit of fun and raising money.

Had Second World War veterans been present or the event been held in Armistice Week then there is no way would I have chosen this costume.

The event itself was for charity, ironically I am probably best known for my charitable work. I have completed the London to Brighton bike ride for the past eight years collecting thousands of pounds for the British Heart Foundation; I have also wrecked my knees pounding the streets of Hampshire to raise money for other charities. Additionally as the charities representative of a Naval Engineering Club I have raised thousands more for the Rowans Hospice. Likewise I have been a supporter of the NSPCC for many years, this was just another charitable event getting my full support for a very worthy cause.

Once again I offer my humblest apologies for any offence caused. My actions were well intended, it is a shame that the media are sometimes incapable of taking things thus.